The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-05-14
ANTIQUITY OF LAMPS.
From the Torches OF the Ancients to the
Ig Argand burners of To-day.

ANTIQUITY OF LAMPS.
From the Torches OF the Ancients to tho
Argand burners of To-day.
Lanterns are an ancient institution.
You remember that Diogenes used
one in his eccentric efforts to discover
something he did not believe in. The
lanterns of the Greeks and Romans con-
tanned an oil-lamp. Its sides were
made of thin layers of horn, waxed
parchment, linen or bladder. Glass
lanterns were used in England as early
as 705. They were expensive, how
ever, and a thousand years later the tin
lantern was chiefly in use among the
poor people. The Chinese excel in the
manufacture of lanterns. They have
used them for ages. Some of their
mandarins have them built at a cost of
thousands of dollars each. The word
built is not out Of place here, for these
lanterns are twenty to thirty feet high
and contain hundreds of candles. Their
| sides are often of rich colored silk. On
January Is of each year they celebrate
the 'feast of the lanterns" Whyp o,
it's way they have-thev are heathens,
you know.
No; candles are not the most primitive
form Of light. In Homer's time torches
were used, even in the palaces of the
wealthy. Rush lights, early in use.
were rushes dipped in grease, pitch or
wax. Lamp comes from Greek word
-lampas. The candles of Scripture
are supposed to have been lamps in
which olive oil was burned. The earliest
lamps were shallow vessels of terra
Gotta, either round or oblong in shape.
There was small opening in the top in
which the oil was poured; at one side was
a handle. and opposite, nozzle through
which the wick protruded. This form
of lamp is often represented in pictures.
Many of them were ornamented with
representations of war scenes and
chariot races. Bronze lamps and golden
lamps have been discovered of such
beauty as to entitle them to rank among
the choicest specimens of ancient arts.
In the Acropolis at Athens, according
to historian, was a golden lamp, large
enough so that when filed it would
burn night and day for year. Above
it was bronze palm tree to carry off
its fumes and act rs II reflector. That
was the kind of lamp to have.
Speaking of primitive lamps, some
are still to be found in the country dis
tricts. "While in West Virginia re.
. GENTLY" said Il travelling man, II saw
one that was primitive enough. A
saucer was filled with grease, and over
the edge of it hung lighted wick. 1t
splutted some, but made enough light
to render the darkness visible, and its
heat was sufficient to light the pipes OF
the family. 1t was more used for that
purpose than any other, it appeared to
me, though it was the only light in the
house. There are many people in the
mountain regions whose only lights are
tallow-dips.
A form of the ancient Greek lamp is
still in use among the Canadian French.
In the remote districts of Scotland the
cruisie, similar lamp, is sometimes
found. Olive oil, ground nut oil, pop.
py oil and other vegetable oils are all
used in various districts of the world.
In the tropical regions cocoanut oil is
used in lamps. The trade of candle.
making, usually combined with that OF
soap-boiling, was once an important
one. Franklin worked at it until hi
ran away. The chandler made wicks
nodded. and dipped his candles unit
driven out of his business by the general
, adoption Of whale oil as an illuminani
early in the present century.
Improved lamps were introduced
about century ago. A Frenchman
named Argand, in 1884, invented Il
, burner with two concentric tubes, the
inner one open for current to pass
through, and the outer one containing
} the wick. He had metal chimney tc
, make it draw and carry off the smoke.
: Somebody soon found out that glass
chimney was better for that purpose
Argand's lamp, variously modified and
improved, is the parent of all the bes,
modern lamps. a
Various substitutes for whale oil were
tried during the present century, but
none came into general use until GOA
oil was introduced. 1t was first made
from camel coal, and that is the wa,
it got its name. The general develop
ment of the petroleum region in Penn
: sylvania, which began in lS59-60, soor
destroyed the manufacture of coal oil
: just rs it was getting to be Il profitabl,
industry. Many improvements in lamp,
followed this discovery. But petroleum
is not new thing-neither is natura
gas. Oil was found in spring OF
5 Zacyuthus or Zant, one of the Ionial
I, islands, two thousand years ago. ant
$ was burned in lamps in Sicily Mt Al
Q early age. 1t was known to thr Indians
Q and to the Western pioneers of America
4 but somebody had to discover how tt
!. get it in quantities and use it before
: the knowledge became of value to tin
t world. Petroleum exists in Pcnnsyl
!. vania, New York, Ohio, West Virginia
d Canada, India and in the Caucasian
Q Mountains. Pittsburgh Dispatch.
Q -"In case of an accident, doctor
o broken leg, for instance-what is bes
"A IA, Ia, IL ,,,b;la So, tho